““Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change” puts innovation at the centre of efforts to reflect the needs and viewpoints of women and girls and to resolve barriers to public services and opportunities.” Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women

The essence of Isirika is to make it clear to everybody that you are your sister’s keeper. Musimbi Kanyoro
The test for whether or not you can hold a job should not be the arrangement of your chromosomes. Bella Abzug
The history of all times and of today especially, teaches that women will be forgotten if they forget to think about themselves. Louise Otto
Remember the dignity of your womanhood. Do not appeal, do not beg, do not grovel. Take courage, join hands, stand beside us, fight with us. Christabel Pankhurst
Whatever glory belongs to the race for a development unprecedented in history for the given length of time, a full share belongs to the womanhood of the race. Mary Mcleod Bethune

The UN theme for International Women’s Day 2019 is “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change.” This is very important because it puts innovation by women and girls, for women and girls, at the center of the endless efforts made, over the years, to achieve gender equality. Before you jump to ask why we are focusing attention on the role and place of girls and women in the fields of innovation, consider the current impact gender inequity has on economic and social structures. When only 25% of women have access to STEM posts because of discriminatory practices that stereotype women’s roles and place in the job market, we have a problem with that. Why? Because limiting access to either gender means limiting the chance of innovation and creativity to fully express itself in society.

One fundamental way to to innovate for change globally is to create smart and viable solutions that include women. If only 30% of the world’s researchers are women, we need to bridge that gender gap and train more girls to move into the field and make a difference. Thinking equal means we must be intentional at including girls and women in discussions about innovation and change. We must make access to technical training and skills development available to women. We must delve deep and eliminate all barriers that deter girls/women from pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

This International Women’s Day, UN Women is sharing the unheard stories of incredible women. We invite you to listen and share the stories that inspire you at unheardwomen.org

Here’s to strong women. May we know them, may we be them, may we raise them. Unknown
Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission. Eleanor Roosevelt
I am grateful to be a woman. I must have done something great in another life. Maya Angelou
Women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world. Hillary Rodham Clinton
If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman. Margaret Thatcher
Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more so that we may fear less. Marie Curie
Women have always been courageous… They are always fearless when protecting their children and in the last century they have been fearless in the fight for their rights.” Isabel Allende

This International Women’s Day, another important and complimentary theme organized by the IWD site is #BalanceforBetter – which is a call to action to push for gender equity globally. It is interpreted as this: A balanced world is a better world. How can you help forge a more gender-balanced world? Celebrate women’s achievement. Raise awareness against bias. Take action for equality. Get everything you need to run a successful International Women’s Day right here. When we organize ourselves to not only become innovators and creators in the marketplace, we must open the door to learn how to create gender balance in our lives that is better and empowering. Seeking equity for women doesn’t mean we are negating opportunities for men or diminishing the impact of both genders on societal progress and development. On the contrary, the call for gender equity is a call to those who support fair and equitable treatment for all.

Why is IWD’s call for gender equity/innovation for change important? Men and boys enjoy greater opportunities for success in the workplace, benefit from the gender gap in the field of innovation and creativity, stand a greater chance to be educated in poor countries, and rise up the leadership ladder faster than their female colleagues. Competent and qualified women are often overlooked for key positions/promotions, directed to less career advancing positions, and face the glass ceiling far more frequently than their male colleagues. While we have made some progress in the workforce, there is room for more. We cannot continue to fall back on the few women at the top as examples of our collective progress and achievement. Yes, the are to be admired but, there ought to be room for more women in the C-Suite.

Experience has taught me that it’s women, especially those that are close to us, that are the most effective in making men understand what they are going through. Not only by speaking to our brains, but also to our hearts. Agon Maliqi
Women are leaders everywhere you look — from the CEO who runs a Fortune 500 company to the housewife who raises her children and heads her household. Our country was built by strong women and we will continue to break down walls and defy stereotypes. Nancy Pelosi
It’s important to remember that feminism is no longer a group of organizations or leaders. It’s the expectations that parents have for their daughters, and their sons, too. It’s the way we talk about and treat one another. It’s who makes the money and who makes the compromises and who makes the dinner. It’s a state of mind. It’s the way we live now. Anna Quindlen
I wished to know the meaning of things. I am the meaning. I wished to find a warrant for being. I need no warrant for being, and no word of sanction upon my being. I am the warrant and the sanction. Ayn Rand

Timeline of International Women’s Day (IWD)
28 February 1909 – First observed in the USA as National Women’s Day in Chicago
August 1910 – Attendees at the International Women’s Conference in Denmark propose the idea18 March, 1911 – IWD was celebrated by over a million people in Europe; right to vote, hold public office and end gender discrimination at work were key issues.
February 1913 – Russian women observed their first International Women’s Day. In 1917, it became official in the region.
March 1914 – International Women’s Day was celebrated for the first time on Sunday, March 8, and this date has continued as the preferred/official day since.
October 1, 1949 – In the People’s Republic of China, the state council decided that March 8 would be made an official half day off holiday for women in China1977 – International Women’s Day (marked by the UN since 1975), became a popular event when the United Nations General Assembly invited member states to proclaim March 8 as the official UN Day for women’s rights and world peace.
March 8 2010 – International Women’s Day – the ICRC (Red Cross) drew attention to the hardship displaced women endure (refugees and others at war) and has continued its call to end armed conflict.March 8 2011 – International Women’s Day – Celebrations took place in more than 100 countries in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day
March 8 1996 – Present – Every year, the UN adopts a special theme to focus attention on for International Women’s Day 2019 is Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change. *See the rest below
Sources: UN Women Watch, International Women’s Day.com, Wikipedia

Why is it Imperative that we Close the Gender Gap? For starters, when we lift the barriers to full participation we all benefit. Societies that maximize opportunities for new and varied ideas to thrive, reap the full benefits when new and innovative designs are developed. Creating space for diversity leads to greater opportunities for collaborations and inventions. If working in diverse environments make us smarter, the benefit to society at large would be tremendous. Another important reason is that most of us love to see others who look like us in the workforce. Creating a diverse and balanced workforce sends a positive message that all qualified candidates are welcome. It helps build the economy and empowers women to connect beyond the confines of a job.

Are we Close to Achieving Gender Equity? If you are familiar with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2018, you’d remember that there are 17 areas/goals that member states expect to improve for all citizens by 2030.Which are most important to you?Goal 1: No PovertyGoal 2: Zero HungerGoal 3: Good Health and Well-BeingGoal 4: Quality EducationGoal 5: Gender EqualityGoal 6: Clean Water and SanitationGoal 7: Affordable and Clean EnergyGoal 8: Decent Work and Economic GrowthGoal 9: Industry, Innovation, and InfrastructureGoal 10: Reduced InequalitiesGoal 11: Sustainable Cities and CommunitiesGoal 12: Responsible Consumption and ProductionGoal 13: Climate ActionGoal 14: Life Below WaterGoal 15: Life on LandGoal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong InstitutionsGoal 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Number 5 on the list is to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. A 2018 Progress Report/Review of Goal 5 found that there was still a lot of room for improvement and that member states should implement more aggressive efforts to create permanent change. Change demands effort and courage. My wish is that we reach these lofty goals well before 2030.

Positive Motivation Tip: Make IWD2019 a year where you work to achieve #BalanceforBetter #InnovateForChange for yourself and others.

Motivation Mondays is open to anyone who wishes to share a motivational quote, photo, personal challenge or a post that encourages others to start the week on an upbeat note.Basic Instructions: Each week, I will have a motivation word to help us create a response. (See listed words for the months above/below)Email address: You may email or share your post as a comment and I will add it to the round-up of related posts. email it to: contact(@)mirthandmotivation(.)comCategory tag: – Share your post using Motivation MondaysTwitter hashtag: – Use this on Twitter #MotvnMDedicated Page: There is a dedicated page for Motivation Mondays. It has the same instructions and will include other helpful tools and a link to the round-upFacebook Page:MotivationOnMondays Join our page and add your post and/or any motivational piece you think will be helpful to others.Facebook Community: We have a Facebook community forum to compliment the page. It serves as another way to share uplifting posts and thoughts. Please join in and add your voice.

Badge: – I created a fun badge using PicMonkey’s free photo editing tools. You can create your own, use WordPress’ integrated tool on your blog or you are welcome to use mine. (see dedicated page)Tag: – Motivation MondaysHashtag: – #MotvnMRelated Posts

So true! What’s even more ironic are those who deny the gap exists… Unfathomable. I would love to see the day when we will no longer need special recognition days for marginalized groups but that day is far into the future because of the persistent inequities in society, and the co-option of those, on both sides of the gender divide, who choose to bury their heads in the sand.

Thank you so much. Strong women were/are the bane of my family too. My grandmothers on both sides were fierce women who broke through barriers and encouraged all their kids to go for it. It takes a village to raise a child. It takes a strong woman to ensure the child gets to where he/she is going. TY!

Though I feel like everyday should be Women’s Day (maybe I’m a little biased — haha), it truly is important for the world to stop and consider all the ways in which we, as women, help to keep society afloat. We are important contributors across all areas, and it is important that we are recognized for this.

I agree. I know what you mean and we have these special days for a reason. They give us a chance to pause and reflect on how far we have come and where we are headed. It is important to keep these special days alive and the conversations flowing. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation or inadequate information on so called marginalized groups. We need these special celebration days to correct/address the errors as well as celebrate the successes.

I think no hunger for me is one that’s really important only because I’ve seen little children hungry and struggle and it breaks my heart.
Great post! You really did your research and are very knowledgeable on this subject.

Happy Int’l Womens Day to you! This blog is truly an inspiration and at the same time a proof that women can be really inspiring and at the same time hard working. This is a great celebration too to be thankful to our mothers.

I have a 9 year old girl and have to say that times have changed, for positive. I see a great effort in the community and schools to get girls engaged in STEM events, and hand on opportunities. Unfortunately I do not notice parent involvement in the activities available. I hope that changes because it’s so important for the future of their girls.

It’s shocking sometimes how big the gender gap still is in the world. The theme for this year is such a great one. I don’t have girls to encourage to work on bridging the gap, but I plan on teaching my boys that women are equal to men as they get older.

I have been reading up on IWD wesbite as i am planning to do a blog post on International Women’s Day. I especially like the #BalanceforBetter theme for 2019 IWD and i love the way you interlinked and explained the theme for the year. The quotes are also a great addition!

It starts with a mindset shift in women and girls that they can do whatever their minds allow them to do….and also be stalled the same way. I’m always excited to see more females in STEM projects because honestly it is fun and so very important for the future of this whole world! happy International Womens Day !

Once again you are both educating and inspiring me! Even after everything that has happened, it’s sad that there are several gender gaps — in pay, in research, management, etc etc etc. International Women’s Day helps us keep these gaps on our mind!

I think some of this is relevant, but some of it isn’t. I do believe if a woman is truly as qualified as a man for a position than, yes, they should be considered equal. However, I do not believe that a woman should get a post just because she is a woman, when there is a man more qualified. Most women that say they want equality don’t really. They want preferential treatment.

Always am inspired by your posts and aim to motivate in my writing like you do. Happy Women’s Day and each and every quote you posted here is so powerful… I am glad for the wonderful inspiring women in my life (including my darling teen!)

#BalanceforBetter should be the slogan for Japan. Japan is still backwards in the sense that woman aren’t as equal as man as in working rights. Woman should be staying home and taking care of the house while the man should work. But, life can’t happen like that. Still waiting for change here.

I have a sixteen year old daughter, I can’t imagine her not having the opportunities of education and employment that are ahead of her. It is amazing that still today that people are still fight to be recognized as equals.

As female business owner in a male dominated field, I appreciate this post. It’s been eye opening to see what judgements there are about women’s knowledge about the trades and construction. Here’s to changing the future!

I loved your point about innovating for change! It’s so sad that the gender gap starts so early, but I have a 3 year old and I already see it in things that are marketed to her and people’s expectations of her. She doesn’t always wear pink and doesn’t always have a bow in her hair, and it honestly confuses some people I meet.

I am glad to see women being celebrated in most parts of the world, although not as much as we deserve, it’s a stepping stone from hundreds of years ago. Women are standing their grounds and are unapologetically breaking grounds. We stand strong, not easily broken but persevere for the future, which in my opinion is WOMAN.

Human rights matter. I am so happy now we have equality and women can stend up for themselves. Now we have job, education and freedom. there still is a way to go but I can’t help but thank women who worked so hard to make reality for us.
I hate it that in my country International Women Day is dubbed as holiday of ‘spring, beauty and flowers’, totally disgusted.

First of all I would like to great everyone a Happy International Women’s Day! I am glad that right now women are already given the opportunity to showcase their talents and capability in in terms of business, arts and in any other fields that men can do.

8th of March has always been a very important date for me, ever since I was a little girl. I remember how the entire country was celebrating the woman. As I grew up, I started to understand more about equality and about rights.

I agree with you, we need to celebrate women’s international day. Because women have suffered for centuries. Education, right to decide your spouse, opportunity for jobs were denied to women. Women have struggled for over a century to ensure that we are also entitled to education in the same places as boys.

Women are remarkable (and I’m not just saying that because I’m a woman ; ) )
To be a part of something as beautiful as womanhood is an honor. Happy Women’s Day! We have to keep working hard to make a difference so that everywhere around the world women are seen as equal.
Inspiring post!

I’m so grateful for the women I have around me – from my family to my colleagues at work. I’m so inspired by them and all they do. I personally think women should be celebrated every day because we..do…a…whole..lot! Happy International Women’s Day to all the amazing women out there!!!

We have come far from the past days when women didn’t have any rights, but they fought for them, sure there aren’t that many women in engineering, STEM, and alike, but in my opinion it’s not because someone doesn’t want them to be, it’s simply because most women don’t see themselves in those fields, but in the last few years we have seen women rise to lead companies, rise to lead nations and what not, the gender gap is probably still here but it’s slowly getting shorter and shorter 🙂

I had no idea that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development even existed! This is something I want to read more about as, although they are lofty goals, they are crucial for our continued survival and well-being as a people. Thanks for bringing this to my attention, and Happy International Women’s Day to you!

Happy International Woman’s Day to you too. I love this year’s theme as we, as woman, need to strive for balance in the world we live in. Woman should be recognize for the hard work and their unlimited desires to make the world better.

“If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman” by Margaret Thatcher. Love this quote. I think it is good that you define what gender equality truly means. I have traveled everywhere, and I have seen unfairness in different aspects of life. Last week, I have told people that it’s International Women’s Day, and they asked me when is ‘International Men’s Day’ (they thought it is ‘unfair’ not having one) tsk. Gender equality doesn’t mean negating opportunities for men. It is about equitable treatment for all – in opportunities, leadership positions, salaries, etc. We are the ‘Overlooked’, It’s time we change that.

As much as I love the fact that women are being celebrated like this and its awesome! Men are just as important as we are….I have both strong male and female roles in my life that have shaped a awesome me today!

I have 3 women in my life My mum, sister and aunt. Very strong and determined. Can’t imagine a day without them. I thank them for what I m today and how they have motivated me to be a better person. I m nothing without them. Great article.

I was just telling my husband yesterday, “It was Women’s Day and no one greeted me? Not a single one of you showed appreciation to what I am doing for this family.” That was a bummer. Anyway, I don’t believe that quote, “Behind every successful man is a woman.” Nope. It should be “beside” not “behind.”

Love this kind of site wherein it show and gives us inspiration to life. That no matter what happen we should always look on the positive side. To all women out there, it’s great honor and great to know you are in this world to make it a better place to live in. Happy International Womens Day.

What a fantastic post! I have a feeling my daughter will be in the STEM field. She has a love for all things STEM right now and we are an extremely techy family. I’m working to give her the confidence she needs to go out the and kick some ass and get things done.

I remember one of my male fb friend asking what’s the importance of celebrating International Women’s Month and even exclaimed it’s just another nonsense celebration. I think until now there are still men who don’t acknowledge equality.

You shared one of my favorite quotes: Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more so that we may fear less. Marie Curie
It makes me glad when I see that women are being remembered. Women have come such a long way from being nothing more than someone’s trophy and property.

Happy International Women’s Day! Your posts are always so inspirational and informative!

As a woman who majored in chemistry and went to medical school, I am very familiar with many of the dynamics with women in STEM fields. I was fortunate in that my father pushed me to not fear math and then he wrangled an invite to my uncle’s med school graduation when I was 11 (I was the youngest one there!). I know many girls don’t get that kind of support! We must work to spread the support around!

This is a great read that demonstrates the benefits of exposing young girls to careers and opportunities early to help bridge the gender gap. What a wonderful way to celebrate International Women’s Day.

I can’t insist on the fact that how important it is for women to support each other. Gender gap is a reality and we are still light years away from equal rights and equal pay. I would say the work has just started and there is a long way to go.

Such a great post to read! All the women in my family, including my mom, nana and sister are strong independend women. I just wish they were giving more credit to themselves! Us, women, tend to talk about bad things rather than celebrate our strenth!

I don’t agree with international woman’s day; we want to be treated as equals, and giving us a day does not treat us as equals. Actually, it puts us higher than men.
And as much we suffer, so do men. We have advantages over men just as much as men have advantages over us.

We had an interesting Woman’s Day session at work last week and it was refreshing to see women representing all aspects of the business. Coincidentally, the introductory quote for this article is from Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, who as the Minister of Public Works in South Africa in 2005 initiated a government sponsored international exchange programme to elevate women in management to senior positions.

Such an inspirational and powerful post. Women are superhuman in my eyes. Without my mother, wife and daughter I wouldn’t be half the man I am today. The fact there are still issues of women struggling to be counted equal to men is heavily bothersome. Goal #5 – Gender Equality is one of my largest goals to achieve in society because I know my daughter can do absolutely anything a man can do, maybe even better, and she shouldn’t have to fight to prove it. Great blog. Thank you for sharing!